Sirsa family rendered homeless after roof collapse

Anil Kakkar

Sirsa, July 19

In Gali No 5 of Kirti Nagar, Sirsa, the roof of the house of Tarsem Singh, a poor and ailing man, collapsed in the early hours on Saturday. The accident occurred due to the weakened structure of the house following recent heavy rains in the area. Thankfully, there was no loss of life.

At the time of the incident, Tarsem Singh, along with his son, daughter, and wife, was inside the house. His son, who was sleeping in the room, sensed danger and just in time managed to escape moments before the roof came crashing down.

The incident took place around 3 am. According to the family, Tarsem’s son heard chunks of cement falling from the ceiling. Alarmed by the sound, he immediately ran out of the room and within minutes, the entire roof came crashing down. His quick reaction saved his life.

Although there were no injuries, the damage to the house was total. Household items such as the TV, bed, and other essentials were destroyed. The structure, already fragile due to poor construction and recent rains, could not withstand the pressure and gave way.

Now, the family is forced to live under the open sky. The small veranda in front of the room is also in a dangerous state, and cannot be used. Wet beds and soaked clothes lie scattered outside as the family tries to cope with the damage and protect whatever little they have left.

Tarsem Singh, the head of the family, shared the financial difficulties they are facing. He suffers from a serious illness and much of the family’s limited income is spent on his treatment. “Our condition is already bad, and now with our house gone, we don’t know how to survive. We used to do small home-based work to earn money, but even that has stopped now,” he said with deep sorrow. Tarsem has appealed to the local authorities and social workers for help. “We are living in the open, under the sun and rain. We request the administration and kind-hearted people to help us rebuild our roof. At least give us some shade to live with dignity.”

BPL card cancelled, no access to govt aid

Adding to their woes, the family revealed that their BPL (Below Poverty Line) ration card was cancelled a few months ago without any prior notice or reason. As a result, they are no longer receiving subsidised food or other government benefits.

“We used to get cheap ration through the BPL card. It helped us survive. But now, our name has been removed from the list, and we don’t know why,” said a family member.

The residents and social workers have come forward to support the family and are demanding urgent help from the government. “This is not just a local issue, it’s a matter of basic human rights. The administration must take immediate steps to provide the family financial aid, ration, and a permanent house under schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana,” said a local social worker.

Haryana Tribune